Rosh Chodesh Blessings

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	Berachot Rosh Chodesh


	Blessings for the new Month





	"He made the moon to mark the appointed times; the sun knows its time for setting." (Psalm 104:19)


	Birkat HaChodesh (Sanctification of the Month) The Birkat HaChodesh is typically said during Shabbat Mevarchim (i.e., the last Sabbath of the month before Rosh Chodesh) to petition the LORD for a good month. It is recited at the synagogue at the end of the Shabbat Torah reading service:






		May it be Thy will, LORD, our God and God of our fathers, that You begin for us this month for good and for blessing. May You give to us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of physical health, a life in which there is fear of heaven and fear of sin, a life in which there is no shame or humiliation; a life of wealth and honor, a life in which we love Torah and fear God; a life in which the LORD fulfills the requests of our hearts for good. Amen. Selah.

		Yehi ratzon milefanekha, Adonai Eloheinu veilohei avoteinu, shetechadesh aleinu et ha-chodesh hazeh le-tovah ve-livrakhah. Vetiten lanu chayim arukhim chayim shel shalom, chayim shel tovah, chayim shel berakhah, chayim shel parnasah, chayim shel chillutz atzamot, chayim sheyeish bahem yirat shamayim veyirat cheit, chayim she'ein bahem boshah ukhlimah, chayim she oseh vekhavod, chayim shetehei vanu ahavat Torah veyirat shamayim, chayim sheyemalei Adonai mishalot libeinu letovah. Amen. Selah.


	The Molad (time announcement) After the invocation for the month's blessing from the LORD, it is customary for the time at which the new moon will appear in Jerusalem to be announced. First the congregation recites mi she'asah nissim, "the One who performed miracles":




	The One who performed miracles for our forefathers and redeemed them from slavery to freedom, may He redeem us soon and gather in our exiles from the four corners of the earth; then all Israel shall be friends. Let us say: Amen.

The chazzan (cantor) then announces the precise time of Rosh Chodesh in Jerusalem:



		Rosh Chodesh (Hebrew month) will be on the day (Hebrew day of the week) that comes to us and to all Israel for good.

*Transliteration:*

Kiddush Levanah (Sanctification of the Moon)

The moon is sometimes called levanah in Hebrew (from lavan, white). Kiddush Levanah (sanctification of the moon) is a ceremony that takes place outdoors on a clear night soon after Rosh Chodesh (often on the first Shabbat night that follows Rosh Chodesh). The blessing is normally written in oversized letters in the prayerbook (called otiot shel kiddush levanah) since it is intended to be read outdoors by moonlight.


	Rosh Chodesh Blessing


	Often Psalms are recited or sung, and then, while looking at the new moon, the following blessing is recited:

	יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֵיךָ יהוה אֱלהֵינוּ וֵאלהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתְּחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ חדֶשׁ טוֹב בַּאֲדנֵינוּ יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ אָמֵן ye·hee · ra·tzon · meel·fa·ne'·kha · Adonai · E·lo·hey'·noo vei·lo·hey · a·vo·tey'·noo · she·te·cha·deish · a·ley'·noo · choh·desh tov ba'a·do·ney'·noo · Ye·shoo'·a' · ha·ma·shee'·ach · a·mein "May it be Your will, LORD our God and God of our fathers, that you renew for us a good month in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Amen." Download Study Card


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